Protesters plan rally at Metgasco

OPPONENTS of coal seam gas will take their fight directly to mining company Metgasco tomorrow with a rally planned outside the company's Casino offices.

The group will also hold a similar rally outside the office of State Lismore MP Thomas George on Friday and will call on the MP to tell them where he stands on coal seam gas.

The planned rallies follow a recent "non-violent direct action" protest at a coal seam gas well near the Casino airport, and a public meeting in Lismore on March 1 which was attended by about 700 people.

They are also a sign of things to come with more protests planned and "non-violent direct action training" workshops being held at locations on the North Coast, most recently at Kyogle on Sunday.

"We will be gathering to let Metgasco know that Northern Rivers residents do not want our region turned into gas fields," Kyogle Group Against Gas spokeswoman Boudicca Cerese said.

"And we are prepared to engage in non-violent actions to protect our environment and defend our communities from this industry."

In relation to the planned protest at the office of Mr George, Ms Cerese said the community was "sick and tired" of having their letters and phone calls to Mr George not answered.

"We are gathering to request Mr George tell us his position on coal seam gas in our region," she said.

"We also want to express our disappointment with the recent coal seam gas policy announcements by the State Government that do nothing to stop the unchecked expansion of this industry on the Northern Rivers."